Box-operating mechanism for looms



May 3.1927 W, RUTHL0W BOX OPERATING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed Dec. 21,1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTUHNEY w/mfss Y n 1FL/.1

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Patented May 3, 1927iv WILLIAM CRUTCHLOW, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY,ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, T0 CROMPTON 8c KNOVVLES LOOM WORKS,0Fl SETTS, A CORPORATIGN OF IMASSACHUSETTS. l

WORCESTER', MnssAcHU- BOX-OPERATING MECHANSIVI LOOMS.

Application lcd December 2 ofsaid mutilated cylinder' gears, forrotation thereby (and consequent shifting of the boxes) upon the vshedbeing closed; thus, with relation to shedding cycles each taken as`extending from one full opening of the shed to the next, the shiftingof the vibrator levers and gear should occur in the period comprisingthe fourth and first quartercycles and the rotation of the vibrator-gearis adapted to occur in the period comprising the second and thirdquarter-cycles. Heretofore it was regarded as impossible in -a Jacquardloom to satisfactorily control or effect the shifting ofthe vibratorlever by' the jacquard mechanism; instead, another pattern-controlledmechanism, as a dobby, was commonly used to shift the vibrator gears andthus control vthe box-operating mechanism. The difficulty attending anyeffort to utilize the jacquard machine for i effecting the shifting layprincipally in the fact that during an appreciable part of each periodwhen the griff (or either griff) of the jacquard machine might act toeect the shifting (that is, during each lifting stroke of themachine)the shifting should not in fact occur at all because it was also thenthat the vibrator-gear should remain in raised or loweredv position forrotation by one of the cylinder-gears to shift the boxes, or to state itotherwise: in the case of a double-lift machine a hook in the machinedelegated to the shifting of the box-operating mechanism. could notuninterruptedly remain caught on a griff during its active or liftingstroke because in the time cov.- ered by the second and third quartersof that stroke (i. e., ofthe cycle) said mechanism must standstationary, since that is the box-changing period; andjin thev case ofal i, 192e. serial No. 608,147.

single-lift machine a hook so Y delegated could not be caught on the.griffl at the beginning of its active or liftingstrole because duringthe first half of that stroke (or third quarter) said mechanism mustremain stationary, 'j y' l l In ,view of the foregoing it is my objectto provide a, construction by which the jacquard -machine may controlthe vibratorlever,` thus making unnecessary the presence in the loom ofadditional patterncontrolled means for doing this lworlr. A And this Iaccomplish bythe means hereinafter set forth, j

it being` ren'iarlred that my invention is predicated upon utilizing an.available part of the rlifting stroke (as the fourth quarter'- cycle)for performing a preliminary or setting operation, thereafterimposingthe work of `actually shifting said mechanism upon anothermember includedin .the driving means of the loom.- j

I have illustrated my invention in connection. with a loom havingV adoublelift jac-k quard machine, but it will be understood that it is4applicable to a loom having a single-lift machine'.

In the-drawings, Fig. l is a front elevationv of a loom containing myinvention;

Fig. 2 isa similar view, on a larger scale, i of the mechanism which Iapply to the loom in order to effect the desired object;

Fig. 3 is a plan, partly in section,'of what is shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4is a side elevation showing principally the box-operatingmechanism ofthe loom and certain connections embodied in the invention; and y jFigs. 5 and 6 are diagrams.

In the loom frame a- I vhave'shown the usual driving means for a loomincluding the bottom or cam-shaft bhaving a'doublecrank c, two pitmen Zconnected with the double-crank, the vlevers e connected to said pitmenvfor raising and lowering the links 7", and therethrough ytheshed-forming elements or gritfs gef al jacquard machine I have alsoshown gearing 28 connecting the'cam-shaft b with the crank-shaft 22 ofkthe loom sothaty said shaft 22 rotates in a 2 to l ratio with respect tothe-shaft b and gears o o (Fig. 4l) intergeared by gears p so astorotate in oppositev directions at the same speed. The lower gear o isdriven from the cam-shaft b by a gear train o', 02, 03. so that thegears rotate in a 2 to 1 rat-io with respect to the cam-shaft, saidgears o 0 having fixed to rotate therewith 'the 1nuti-v lated cylinder''gears fg fg (constituting actuators of the box-operating mechanism).The lower cylinder gear has a cani y lixed to rotate therewith for apurpose to rbe described. y I also provide a gear 19 mounted on the loomframe and Lhaving a wrist-pin 18 adjustable in a longitudinal slot in ac'rank'ar1n18 ixedto'said gear, and ati-ans# mission gear 2O which isinterposed between the gear 19ja'nd the gecr 21 on `'the lcrankshaft '22of Jthe loom.

The jacquard machine is oif 'well-known 7 tvpe and includes a pluralityof hooks g Fig. '1) 'adapted '-to lbe 'connected 'to the warp threadsand to be'caught'and elevated :byone or the other offthe griiis g, andneedles g through which fthe 'hooks are positioned with reierence 'tothe griffe, lso that they will be caught and I'elevated thereby or willclear the same, as vdeiterminedtby a system of pattern cards i. A cardcylinder 'z' is arranged to rotate in Aajsliding structure 7c, and linksconnectv said Astructure with a lever Z, said lever beingconnected witha ithird crank m on `the"cam-shaft Zn by :a pitman fn.

' #connecting'eccentricpoints of the gears r with leversja forming aconnection for transnntting motion to acompound lever e connected to theshuttle-box'rod w. Associated with this vmel'ranism VAis :the usualdetent `or t lock-pawl 'e Enormally urged into locking en- `lagernentlwith -`the vibrator-levers Eby the spring a and adapted on everyrevolution of cam r1/ to be sliiitedcle'arolisaid vibratorlevers Itoallow fthe latterto I)be shifted up or down. 'It will-be understoodtlratin order to 'obtain f'the ffour positions of the boxes requiredinthe casey of a 4 'to E1r` box-operating 1f and. u mus'tlbe duplicated.s

In furtherance ofniy object I lprovide the loom wi th the 3Afollowingmechanism;

Onfthetop offthe J'loom' frame is arranged an organization loi' 'parts*known in the art as ia'V b'oxf indicator. f'tfcoIn-'prises a frame 2*(FgJ-Q) ftwo u'pstanding levers 43 which aref-"respectively connectedby iflexible 'conneetih'iis 54 with the vibratorilevers r and each:having a "roller3^` oscillatory vcams 5 against the peripheries ofwhich the rollers are respectively held by the weight' of thevibrator-levers. Each cam has a recess 5v into which the roller mayfall, so that when `the cam is turned to the right in Fig. 2 and Itheroll falls into the recess7 the associated vibrator-lever will bedepressed but when the vcani is tu-rned to the left and the roller riseson the periphery oi the cam the vibrator-'lever will 'be elevated. Thecams are journaled on a shaft 6 in said frame; and opposed levers 7 arefulcrume'd on said shait and normally 'held spring-depressed againststops 7 Either one oi' Ithe levers 7 when elevated, engages theassociated `cam jat one of 'its lugs 5 and shifts 'said cam one yway orthe other.

In a VYframe 8 2) suspended from the beams 9 (Fig. 1) on which thejacquard machinev is arranged are iulcrunied four levers 9 (Fig. 2)normally resting on stops 8 and connected respectively 4with the levers7 'by the flexible connections 10. These levers 9 are here shown in :twopairs projecting op'positely Vfrom their ulcra andl at their free 'endsthey have reversely set upstanding pivoted couplings in the form o'ihooks 11, which by the weight of themselvesand other parts connected tothem normally standinoperative or retracted against an intervening stop12. Each'coupling orhook 11 is connected by a link 13 with a bell-cranklever 14C fulcrumed in 'frame 8 and each lever 14 is in turn connectedkby a lexibledevice 15 with one of the jacquard hooks g, 'the connection'15 Abeing slack except whenV su'ch hook is within 'the uppermostone-quarter of its vertical range'of movement.

Frame 8 'affords a "fulcrum for a :lever '16 having knives or lugs 17'to 'engageand lift the hooks 11 'when lthey are rshifted from theirretracted Vpositions by pulls exerted by the :jacquard hooks g. This@lever v16 which isa third actuator included'in the"drawing means ofthe, loom, is reciprocated by being connected with the wrist-pin 18(Fig. 4'). It is desirable'tha't this connection betweenthe lever 16 andthe wrist-pin i18 should Ibe a yielding one. Therefore there is .apitman24 (Fig. 1) Ahaving a Vuniversal,connection withthelever and susceptibleof a'Xial movement in afyoke 25 (Fig. 4') 'which upwardly abuts a collar26 on the pitman 'and downwardly abuts a spring 27 interposed betweenthe yokeand a collar 28 on the pitman7 the yoke beingpivoted on thewrist-pin E18.

Operation.

When anyv one `oi the jacquard hooks g which are connectedwith thecouplingsor hooks 11 is called (i.e.,'coup'led with-.a ris ing grid),there will then take place7 during the last quarter'o'f its lrise orthe-last vquarterl of a cycle trom one fully open shed to the next, ashifting of the corresponding i coupling 11 'from its retracted positionto` operative position* Where f' 1t overhangs the ricca-raafcorresponding knife-17. During .the said cycle the lay .9 2 has 4alreadyreceived `from theA crank-shaft itsjvbeatingaip and' return move--me'nt,- so thatftbe shuttle may betherealft'er thrownv when' the shedisy'fully opened. As stated, the vibrator-lever 'must be. shifted atabout theend of t-hisfcycle, or at about the; timeavhen the shed isfully open. The `se lectedcoupling ll'having been operatively positionedfor effectingtheshiftingof fthe i vibratonlever, the ylever 16 lis thenmoved to raise its inner end'by` the downward pull exertedby pitman24,ithe gearing 21-f20-19 being properly timed `for the purpose.v Byfthis'rising `movement ofthe llever l6.tl1`e in' dicator mechanism(Fig.':2) yputs the vibrator'lever in -itsnew position and" fleavesritVthere.' On the return movement of the 'le- Yverl, the lever 7 simplyreturns idly-tonerm'al position in -a mannercharacteristic Vof saidmechanism. Thesame series ofvopera'-, tionsfhappens upon5` the callingof any 'otherA 'hookforrcoupling g ofv the jacquard machine thatisdevoted to controlling the vi- 'brator-levers.v f 'lhus,vvhile nth-ejacquard I y machine does not lshift theV vibrator-levers directly, 'itdoesj'establish.Y the'fcondition whereby suchwork 'will be done, and theactual` Work ofso shiftingkthe*vibrator-levers is thereafter done byquite simplemean's,in

a st'eadLof-by the complicateddobby mecha- The yielding connectionbetween leverV 16 and Wrist-pin 18 permits the throw of thel latter Vtobemore than enough to insure an adequate lift of any ofthe levers 7;

vf from mym-vention'in"reference, respectively, tothe lifting action ofa'double-lift and' of a single lift jacquardmachine. v

' In Fig. 5, one kor the other griff moves. Y e., lifts) from Ato Bincoincidence With `the period from one ,shed-openingito the' next, and ifa hoolr'of the jacquardmachine ydirectly.connected toshift a vibratorlever were engaged With'the griff duringthe first quarter (marked l) ofvthis movement, it Would necessarily be disengaged immediate-- f ly, asduring the quarters marked 2 and 3,

the vibrator-lever must stand at dwell: the fourthquarter might beavailed `:for the purposeof D'shifting the vibrator lever but the"motion it affords Ais too small to efecty re- A liably thefull movementof the vibratorle-- ver, considering the distance from the J acf "quentlost motion.

quard to thel vibrator `lever and the cense- In FigLiG, thegriifn'i'ove's froinA to B i s and back to A from one shed openingtothe next,and a hoo-k delegatedto theshifting `of a vibrator-lever must j be freefrom its Infurther explanationof my invention may refer to Figs 5 and 6,Which diagramvmatically illustrate the i .advantage leriv'ed griffduringthe f first vhalf ofthe return vv i or lifting strokeV of thegriii (or quarter-""-' inarled because during 'that'.lquarter a asWell/as kduring thatmarkedj'Q the vif* brator-lever-inust stand atdivell: l-lere againfo the first and fourtliquarter is;not.,catisfacfytorily available for the reasons already ex-'y 4' plained in connectionwith Figb. f

By my inventionthe fourth 'quarter made available, as.:y it fis.`utilized only for tainingn'iotion ivhichvin theffirstplacegniav; i beslight, though adequate forthepurposein'y ivhichfmay be placed close`enough tothe lost-motion. a w y l 1 `Thereis muchmore flexibility inthe'timing of the -severalfpartaas theglever llmayoperate lat any. timebefore 'the downward `hand,` and in the second placeonly affe'ctsfaf"Vl. 'part 'Whichpresents inapprec'iable `inassv and l jacquard. machineto substantially eliminate.:

movementof thef grif'fs occurs, and .theJindilf` catorV mechanism maypositionthe vibrator-j levers at any time during vthe engagement. ot

f Having thus described my invention kand the operation thereof, I 'donotjvish to'fbef" limited tothe details herein'disclosed iotlier- 'I V`i y Wise than as set forth in. the 'claims,but what Iclaim is: Q Y ,Yl. In adrop boxI loom, `a pluralityof drop boxes, dropboxfactuatingmechanisi niinclud-y i ,s l

ing a. pairof cylinder gears,fa plurality ofv i vibratory gearsv and -a,p1urality of vibratorr 1 levers supportingvsaid vibratorgeara av dropbox indicator lefectiveto selectively position Y Y said vibrator' leversvin raised` or lovvered positions and toy retain said levers insuch-Vselected positions until y; said indicator 4is 1 again operated, aregularly*'drivenactuator forsaidjdr'op box indicator, a plurality of.coupling members each normally maintained' i Vin Withdrawn inoperativepositionbuteach movable atganytime to position for engagementbysaidactuator and movable thereby to shiftfaxsele'cted vibrator lever, ajacquard 1 j. to render said. drop box indicator'operative`'mechanisman'd pattern1 ,control led1 connecy i` tions from said`)acquard mechanism to 'said j" coupling members, Wherebyany oneofsaidcoupling members may beselectively moved at any-time into said actuator.f

2.` Inv a drop i boxV drop boxes, 'drop box; acti-iatinzcry mechanismposition for engagement by loom, plurality of i" 1,20 i

including a pair cylinder gears, .a\ "plu` ralityof vibratorjgea'rs andak plurality of i vibrator f levers `supporting said .vibrator y ,y v y1,626,7234

ofy oppositely ldisposed actuating levers 'for each cam, a couplingmember. for eachactu- ,i ating' lever; said members being` normallyinoperative with respecty to said actuator, a ]acquard mechanisu'i andpattern controlled connections `from said jacquard mechanism kto saidcoupling` members, whereby said members, may `be selectively moved intovposition ifor engagement by said actuator, Asaid connections includinga plurality4 or `hoo'lrs in said .jacquard mechanism,y each `delinritelyassigned lto control ak selected coupling member -and actuating lever,and' eifective to lmove one of said cams tochange the position of theassociated vibrator lever. 3. In a drop box loom, a plurality or drop iboxes, actuating mechanism therefor including a plurality of vibratorgearsandl levers, a drop boi; indicator connected to said vibratorlevers and eective to selectively raise or lower said vibrator leversand to retain said vibrator levers in such positions until saidindicator is again actuated, said indicator having a plurality ofactuating levers each connected to a vibrator lever, a plurality ofindicating levers .or said actuating levers each having anoperativemovement and an idle return movement, means actuated by saidindicatinglevers eective to move and retain the setting of each actuating lever,an actuator orsaid drop boX indicator regularly moved in timed rela-`tion tothe drop box actuating` 'mechanisnn coupling members `connectedto' saidindicator leversand normally positioned linoperative withrespect to said actuator, a jacquard mechanism, Aand pattern. controlledconnections from said jacquard mechanism to said.

coupling members eliiective -to selectively position said members forengagement by said actuator tovcontrolthe ensuing movements of saidvibrator levers.- l

Ll. ln a drop box loom, a pluralityof drop bones, actuating mechanismtherefor including va plurality or vibrator gears andy levers, a dropbox indicator connected 4,to said vibrator levers `and effective toselectively raise or lower saidvibrator levers and-.to retain saidvibrator levers in'isuch positions until said indicator is againactuated, said v indicator having a plurality of levers each fio bei',`and a direct and positive connection between each hook and itsassociated coupling member through-Which said member isoperativelypositioned only so long as its jac- `quard hook Vis raised.

In testimony whereof I -ax' my signature.

WILLlAMf GRUTCHLOW.

